華嚴五十要問答 2.3

2.3

Question: How are the times of the world [conceived] in the various teachings? Answer: According to the Hīnayāna teaching, dharmas exist across the three times. According to the triyāna teaching, among the three times the present exists, while the past and future do not exist. According to the Ekayāna teaching, there is the meaning of the nine times: the past, future, and present, as well as the present of the present—these three time periods exist; the past, future, and present each exist, while the past and future six times are non-existent. The nine times each interpenetrate and are mutually identical, and therefore can form a single comprehensive phrase; the comprehensive and the distinct combine to form the ten times. These times and so forth have cittaviprayukta-saṃskāras as their substance.